Cops commended for 'professional' conduct in Mona stand-off

IT is not often that members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force come in for praises from the public. But residents of Mona Road, St Andrew, say a few lawmen from the Police Motorised Division deserve just that for the way they handled a confrontation with an armed man in their community on Monday.

The lawmen were travelling along Mona Road at approximately 12:30 pm when they happened upon a man armed with a knife, rocks and other sharpened metals, who was provoking residents.

"Realising that someone could be injured, members from the team attempted to confiscate the weapon from the man but instead placed themselves in harm's way as the man became boisterous and threatened to hurl stones at the police team," a police source told the Jamaica Observer, noting that the cops were successful in pulling the knife from the man's hand, but not the rocks.

This led to a more than two-hour-long stand-off, which saw the man taking refuge on the roof of a building on a private property — threatening to jump if the cops continued to pursue him. He also menaced the approaching police with the rocks.

Negotiations by the police eventually led the man off the roof of the building and off the private property. The rocks and other sharp implements with which he was armed were also retrieved by the police.

He was not arrested, but was counselled by senior officers at the scene.

On Monday, residents commended the cops for their "professional approach" to calming the situation.

"The police in the past have been criticised for their use of force, but in this situation they must be commended," said resident Tanisha Lawrence.

Shamar Gordon, another resident, agreed.

"I am really proud of how the police conducted themselves and the fact that they went the extra mile to preserve a life," said Gordon.

— Kimmo Matthews

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